FG Declares Malnutrition a National Emergency, Warns of $1.5bn Annual Loss

The Federal Government has declared the malnutrition crisis in Nigeria a national emergency, warning that the country loses more than $1.5 billion annually to its impact.

Special Assistant to the President on Public Health, Uju Rochas-Anwuka, disclosed this in Calabar, Cross River State, during a courtesy visit to Governor Bassey Otu.

Rochas-Anwuka noted that Nigeria ranks first in Africa and second globally for child malnutrition, a situation she said undermines human capital and long-term national development.

“The Nutrition 774 Initiative was conceived to provide a unified response to Nigeria’s malnutrition crisis, elevating nutrition as a national priority,” she explained. “It is a multi-sectoral, community-based framework designed to improve nutritional outcomes across the country’s 774 Local Government Areas.”

She said the initiative is anchored on a five-phase Strategic Plan focused on strengthening governance structures, ensuring accountability, and driving sustainability. According to her, state councils on nutrition are expected to provide leadership and oversight in implementing the initiative.

The presidential aide commended Cross River State for making budgetary provisions for nutrition, stressing that such commitment strengthens local systems while aligning with national priorities.

“The vision is to achieve a well-nourished and healthy Nigerian population through strengthened local systems and coordinated national action on nutrition,” she added.

In his remarks, Governor Otu said his administration has deliberately placed citizens at the center of its development agenda, with particular emphasis on health and education.

“Our agenda was very clear from the beginning; we want a people’s government here. Education and health are the two key areas that, if not working well, no society can make progress,” the governor said.

He explained that Cross River has prioritized nutrition and preventive healthcare as the foundation for sustainable growth, noting measurable improvements in infant health indicators.

“Since we started strengthening our nutrition sector, we have seen a steady decline in infant morbidity and mortality rates,” Otu revealed.

Among the state’s interventions are fully paid maternity and paternity leave, support for parents, fortification of staple foods like rice with vitamins, and plans to expand school feeding programmes.

“Preventive health is far more effective than tackling ailments after they occur. That is why we are investing in nutrition, early childcare, and food security to build a strong immune base right from infancy,” he added.

Governor Otu thanked the presidential aide for the visit and reaffirmed his government’s commitment to reforms that enhance health, education, and overall wellbeing. He also called for stronger federal support to sustain state-level reforms.